KidSpace @ Mass MoCA

Today, Jacob had a day off from preschool due to the Center holding a Professional Development Day for the teachers. A classmate's mom set up a Preschool Program at Mass MoCA's KidSpace so that our preschoolers could have a little field-trip on their day off. It was such fun! It ran from 10:00-11:30 and included a mini-tour of the museum and an art project (shaving cream and watercolors.) Many of us stayed for lunch following the program.

 

top left: going over rules and turning listening ears on.
top right: going over rules
bottom left: "what is this sculpture made of? Where is the water coming from?"
bottom right: "try to look at the painting as long as you can without blinking."

Jacob: it was fun going on this little field-trip with you. I can't wait for more opportunities like this. I am also so glad to have places like Mass MoCA in our area. Whata great resource. You are one lucky boy!
XOXO
Mommy!

Building a "Nest"

When Josh is away for work/golf, Jacob usually spends one or two nights in our bedroom. Since we do not sleep well together (he takes up a lot of room, as do I!), i make him a nest on the floor. Last night he asked to sleep in "a nest" so we built one together. Looks like it was a success!

Jacob: I love listening to you fall asleep and have you right beside me all night! I hope you never grow too old for your nests in mommy and daddy's room.

XOXO
Mommy!

First "Drop-Off" Playdate

Jacob has had a play date planned with his "best friend" Walter, for the past two weeks. So - yesterday was the big day. He has been waiting and waiting so patiently, often times with the last thing he says at night is: "but mom, I'm so excited!" Saturday night, the night before the play date, Jacob asked if we could turn the clocks ahead again so it would be a shorter night. :)

I dropped Jacob off at 10:30, visited with Carrie for a bit, and then headed to the parents group at church. I picked him up at 12:30 and Carrie said it was a success! They played well together and are looking forward to many more play dates. Here are some pictures of the "best friends."

Jacob: I am So glad that you had fun with Walter today! I love how excited you were to be at your friend's house. I look forward to seeing you develop friendships that last a lifetime. May you always be blessed with amazing friends!
XO
Mommy!

Winter fun with Daddy

Jacob sure does have fun with his daddy! Here are some pictures of their fun together: (Snow shoes; building in the snow; hitting golf balls into the nets at Williams)

 

Providence, RI: Thursday March 13-Sunday March 16th

Saturday March 15th:
When we woke up, it was raining, so we decided to not go to the zoo. Instead Jacob and I had a lazy morning  and headed over to the mall when it opened at 10am. We had to get a bday gift for Abby (a daughter of a high school friend of Josh's. we were going to their house for dinner and it was Abby's bday). We headed over to Build-A-Bear and built a bear for Abby. Jacob picked out the clothes (Easter dress, bunny ears, and a chick Easter basket) and the bear. He had such joy in picking out a special bear for Abby (a girl whom he'd never meet before). After we finished with our bear, we(I) noticed a frozen yogurt place and we popped in for a mid-morning treat. I said to Jacob "Frozen yogurt at 10:30 in the morning! What kids of day is it!?!" I wasn't really expecting a response, but Jacob said "A special day with mommy!" Adorable! We then headed back to the hotel to me Josh for lunch  - at Fire and Ice again. :)

After lunch, Jacob and I headed back to the hotel to swim, but the pool was closed. I was thinking that Jacob would want to go to a move (Mr. Peabody and Sherman), but he didn't want to. We were on the bed watching a little TV (hoping for a nap) and about 10 minutes before the 2:30 movie, Jacob said he wanted to go. We quickly got our shoes on and walked through the mall again and into the theater. We walked in during the previews, but made the movie!

After the movie, we went for a quick swim then changed so that when Josh got back we could head to Shauna's house. We had a lovely time there....Jacob and Abby played well and we always love a pizza dinner with friends. It was so nice to have a night out with adults/kids.

 

Jacob: Mommy LOVED spending these days with you. They were so special to me and I will treasure them always! You are such a fun boy and I look forward to many more adventures with you!
XO
Mommy

Providence, RI: Thursday March 13 - Sunday March 16th

Friday, March 14th:
Upon waking up, I went downstairs to the coffee shop to get some breakfast with Jacob. Jacob wanted a bagel and cream cheese with a fruit cup, I got a diet coke, and Josh had an apple. Josh had to get to the seminar and Jacob and I got ready to head to Mystic Aquarium (decked out in his shark sweatshirt I made from Halloween 2013) - about 45 minutes away.

The aquarium was good - expensive, but good. We loved watching the Beluga Whales and the African Penguins. We also saw a Sea Lion show that was pretty neat and a lot of fish/jelly fish/eels etc. Jacob loved the exhibit on the Titanic and it was pretty great.  We had lunch at the little cafe, looked at the whales and the penguins again and then headed to the Sea Lion show. We headed back to the hotel after that.

Here are a few pictures:

 

























 When we got back to the hotel, we went swimming until Josh was done with his seminar. We made it back for Jaocb's 5:30 delivery of milk and Cookies. ADORABLE and Yummy! We then went to eat at Fire and Ice (or the Ninja Place as Jacob calls it). The place is great. You gather all the things you want in your stir-fry and then take it to the big stir-fry surface in the  middle and the chef's cook it up for you. Jacob had a good meal (salad included) as did Josh and I. It was SO yummy. SUCH a fun day!

 

Jacob:
I love experiencing new places with you. You get so excited about EVERYTHING and are so easy to travel with. I love making days special for you as you are so special to me! Love you!
XO
Mommy!

Providence, RI: Thursday March 13 - Sunday March 16

My mom called me on March 8th as we were headed to Hartford, CT to watch the Men's Hockey team play Amherst at Trinity. She said that Uncle David was not doing well and we should come down sooner than later (ie: don't wait until Easter). We were going to head down right after the game, but my car was sounding terrible and needed new breaks. So - Josh and I figured it would be better to head to the Cape Thursday 3/13 right after my early morning appointment at Baystate. He had a conference in PVD that Friday and Sat so we would just make a family trip out of it.

Thursday March 13th: 
We visited Uncle David with mom and dad and it was so hard. He looks so weak and has lost a lot of weight. He gets some results back today as to how the cancer is progressing (or not?). So we will know more today. He said he is not anxious to get these results back. His voice was just so soft, but his personality is still the same. It will be a rough few years for my family. We visited for about an hour then went to lunch (Sam Diegos) with mom and dad. After than. Josh, Jacob and I headed to PVD. Jacob slept in the car and we made a quick stop at Target for bathing suits for Josh and me and a swim vest for Jacob (forgot them!).

We made it to the hotel around 5. We stayed at the Omni Hotel, which was fabulous! It was connected to the Providence Place Mall, the convention center and the parking garage. Great location. Jacob got an activity pack upon checking in and the room was great. Josh and I on a king bed and Jacob on a pull out couch. We got settled, swam, and then headed to the Melting Pot for dinner (which we could walk to as it was in the mall).

Pond Hockey!

Josh and Jacob cleared off the swamp/pond we have in our back yard and used that as their own little skating rink! It was great to have this so close to us! Enjoy these pictures. One is Josh and Jacob skating in Greenfield at the same outdoor rink he, Grampie, and Auntie Kate skated on years ago.
Dear Jacob: These are very special times and special memories. Daddy loved skating with you, Cooper loved being outside with you, and I loved watching you! Skate on! XOXO, Mommy

 

Hockey

Jacob has LOVED learning to skate this fall/winter. We signed him up for the Learn to Skate program in North Adams and were excited to get all his equipment (they need full hockey gear!). He is just ADORABLE in his hockey equipment. Jacob was first a little sad that they were not playing hockey (like he does with Josh in the basement), but he quickly mastered skating with a crate and was soon crate-free.     

During the Season there were two parent/player games. The first one Jacob was just learning how to skate with no help, but it was still fun to watch - not really a game, just the kids skating with their parents. Sandi/Jim came down for it and took Jacob home with them afterward. Josh and I headed up to Burlington, VT the next day for a quick overnight. The second parent/player game was a few weeks ago when Josh was in Hilton Head. I asked Cape Cod Grandpa if he would come up and skate with Jacob. He did and they had a blast! Little story: Jacob was SO nervous to play saying that he couldn't get up so fast and that everyone else would be faster then him. I told him that it was just his learn to skate class and most of them are still pushing around milk crates! Well, little did I know Learn to Play was different then Learn to Skate. Learn to Skate was just playing "soccer" with nets, the older kids, learn to Skate, were playing a parent/player game. I just ushered Jacob out with the bigger kids and he did WONDERFUL! He really enjoyed how there were two lines of kids with each kid playing 2 minutes each. He got to sit on the bench during his "off" 2 minutes just like daddy does! :)

Dear Jacob: I had SO much fun watching you play in the parents/player game and little did you know, that you were playing with older kids! You did great! you improved each time your line went out and Grandpa just thought it was so special being able to play with you. I love you, my little hockey player! I look forward to watching you play for many years to come! And...so does Grandpa!
XO, Mommy